The carriage dropped me off to the ruins of Gaul. Ever since my forefather's time, the once bustling kingdom was reduced to a ghost town. Remnants of the civilization lay forgotten for two hundred years. The rich houses and buildings were now reduced to rubble.
A great, looming castle lay before me. There was an eerie and mysterious air on it. The castle's crumbling roof were inhabited by thousands of sparrows. A thorny thicket surrounded the castle's doorway. Suspicious silky pieces of cloth were attached on the thorns.
I investigated the said silk. It appears to be torn from a sophisticated robe. Some of it was stained with blood.
Jeanne's blood.
I instructed some of my centurions to clear the doorway. The soldiers immediately hacked the thicket away with their swords. They were the royal bodyguards the senate had chosen and hired for the current emperor. I was not allowed to leave the castle without them.
"You're Highness." The leader of the centurions spoke. "We will go with you inside."
"There is no need, Captain." I answered politely. "Just wait here."
"It is far too dangerous, you're Highness."
"The sight of our troops might scare her. It is best if I go alone."
"Her?" The centurion was dumbfounded.
"Someone special." I replied.
The captain nodded and spoke no more. He was a man with a few words. He then ordered his troops to stay behind and guard the castle.I entered alone.
The great Hall and the throne room was filled with cobwebs. A beheaded skeleton was sitting on the king's throne. It was still wearing its regal clothes. A rusty sword was imbedded on its neck. The name Caesar was engraved on the sword.
It was Jeanne's father!
A bunch of sweet smelling flowers were lying in his dead lap. The flowers were still fresh and moist. Jeanne might be nearby.
I paid my respects to the dead king. I was in love with his daughter and at the same time I am his rival's descendant. I might at least try to beg for his blessing now.
After I said a lengthy apology to the dead monarch I continued my search for Jeanne. I investigated a couple of rooms to no avail. They either contained dust or dead servants. Searching for the living in a house of death was no easy matter.
My search had not ended in vain. In the furthermost section of the Great Hall lay a beautiful arch. The golden arch was decorated with carvings of angels and fairies. Beyond the archway lay a flight of steps that seem to ascend infinitely. It was a doorway fit for a princess. It may lead to Jeanne's room. I took the chances and climbed the staircase slowly. A gilded dusty door awaited in the last flight of stairs.
As I opened the door, my heart pounded against my chest. I've never felt more relieved in my life. A woman with golden hair was sitting in her decaying coach, her dress ragged and torn. Her feet and legs were scratched and bleeding. It was her, my Jeanne of the golden statue; my everything. I just wanted to rush by her side, hold her in my arms and make her feel safe. Then I'll tell her how much I love her and how I want to spend the rest of my life with her.
But my feet was stuck in place and my tongue was tied. I could only observe her loveliness in the distance like Pan and his Syrinx. Never to touch and never to keep.
A wild breeze blew in from the broken windows, sweeping the torn draperies in the air. The wind sent her long, flowing hair sprawling in every direction. It made her look ethereal.
"I've met your father." I said to break the barrier of silence between us. "He's a nice fellow. Shame he is missing his head."
Jeanne turned her gaze at me. There was a hint of happiness in her face but it was quickly replaced by irrevocable sadness. "I'm sorry." She said tearfully. "I'm sorry for all the trouble that I've caused. I thought it was all a twisted dream. I wanted to make sure I was awake. I just wanted to go home… but there was no home to return to."
I fell silent. I did not know how to console her. I knew how she felt: afraid and lonely. It was the same feelings that I forced down my throat when I crossed the Rubicon. She was strong yet so fragile. I was afraid to break her.
"I have nowhere else to go now…" She continued softly. She was like a lost child finding her parents in a middle of a crowded city. She was scared. "Everything… everyone is gone now. I was not meant to exist in this era."
"I will correct my forefather's wrongs. I may not bring your family back to life but I'll have Gaul rehabilitated. It will be just like before. There will be houses, bakeries and rolling hills filled with wild flowers. I will restore all your fond memories of home… In the meantime why not stay with me?" I offered. "I can teach you all that there is to know. I can show you the new world we live in."
"I better be on my way." She replied. "I had said many a foul word to you and yet you still continued to show me kindness!"
"Let's start anew then." I held out my hand to her. 'The two of us."
A glimmer of new hope filled her eyes. The prospect of a new future was beckoning her to come take it with open arms. Her tears faded away to a smile.
"Alright, I'll go with you." Jeanne took my hand and squeezed it. "On one condition."
"Name it."
"Bring father along." Jeanne replied. "He's awfully lonely here."
"That's great!" I grinned. "He can meet my father. They'll get along just fine."
"That's not possible." There was some hesitation in her reply. "Father is already dead. You saw his skeleton earlier-"
"Mine's dead too." I chuckled. "Your father can have an earnest talk with my great-great-great-great-great grandfather if he's in the mood."
"That would be great." She held my hand as we left the room together.
